Both human police officers and their canine counterparts need to fit a certain kind. These remarkable creatures are descended from generations of canines developed expressly to carry out the challenging work of police dogs. Not all canines are capable of this, which is why you’ll often only see a select few breeds used for police work.
Common Types of Police Dogs
The following breeds are popular choices to be trained as police dogs:
- Belgian Malinois
- German Shepherd Dogs
- Bloodhounds
- Dutch Shepherds
- Labrador Retrievers
These dogs have a stellar reputation for their working prowess, eagerness to please their masters, and even, in certain circumstances, their doggedness in the face of criminals. Some canines in the force are trained to accomplish nothing but one specific job. Others are multitalented, or “dual-purpose,” meaning they may be used for more than one function. What duties do police dogs have, though?
Apprehension
Arresting suspects is one of the most well-known uses for police dogs. Police dogs learn to bite and hold dangerous criminals as hostages. Dogs are often the first to risk their lives to defend their human mates, charging into a dangerous scenario where they may be confronted by an armed suspect. Herding breeds like the Belgian Malinois, the German Shepherd Dog, and the Dutch Shepherd Dog are the most common types used as apprehension dogs. Herding breeds have been selectively developed for hundreds of years to possess the requisite strength and intelligence to assist their owners in herding cattle, traits that are equally useful for restraining an aggressive human. However, they must be reliable canines that can identify danger and respond only to their masters’ commands.
Detection
Dogs, as everyone knows, have a phenomenal olfactory sense. Unlike humans, dogs have 225 million smell sensors in their noses, which we use in the battle against crime. Dogs are often used in the investigation of illegal behavior, and they may be trained to sniff out a wide variety of substances. The canines are able to fulfill their duties in a variety of settings, including airports, border crossings, huge events, and even civilian automobiles that have been stopped for further inspection. Aside from protecting their handlers and soldiers, military dogs are also taught to sniff out explosives.
Rescue Operations
Finding abducted or misplaced victims is a major element of police operations. Dogs may be taught to sniff out both live victims and human remains in the event of a search and rescue mission. A horrific explosion, earthquake, or other tragedy doesn’t stop them from searching through the ruins. They can search vast areas of woodland for a missing hiker or someone buried by an avalanche, and they may even find corpses of people who have drowned in lakes and seas. Dogs are a useful tool in victim searches due to their ability to quickly cover broad regions. Search and rescue canines have a precision that can’t be matched by humans, but human searchers perform an essential function that can’t be replaced.